'Return to Sender' by Sipke Visser Displays Responses from Strangers
Luke Geoghegan — April 2, 2013 — Art & Design
References: sipkevisser.nl
Return to Sender is the culmination of over three years of dedication from London-based Dutch photographer Sipke Visser, who painstakingly wrote over 500 letters by hand and posted them to addresses picked completely at random across the UK. Each letter had one of his own photos enclosed and a simple request for the thoughts, feelings and opinions on said image from the recipient.
Visser's beautiful hardback book collates the responses he received in return, which range from the bemused to the elated, many of which are hilarious, sad and almost always charming. The format of displaying each image one at a time, followed by the recipient's response and Visser's own subsequent replies offers an intimate and heartwarming window into how complete strangers can interact with each other over photography.
The project is a gentle reminder of the stories and lives being played out by the millions of people living all around us, and perhaps leaves you wondering what else might be possible if we all started talking a little bit more to one another.
Visser's beautiful hardback book collates the responses he received in return, which range from the bemused to the elated, many of which are hilarious, sad and almost always charming. The format of displaying each image one at a time, followed by the recipient's response and Visser's own subsequent replies offers an intimate and heartwarming window into how complete strangers can interact with each other over photography.
The project is a gentle reminder of the stories and lives being played out by the millions of people living all around us, and perhaps leaves you wondering what else might be possible if we all started talking a little bit more to one another.
Trend Themes
1. Interactive Photography - Creating opportunities for individuals to engage and respond to photographs, fostering meaningful connections.
2. Personalized Communication - Harnessing the power of personal letters to elicit genuine thoughts, feelings, and opinions from recipients.
3. Community Engagement - Encouraging dialogue and interaction between strangers to build a sense of connection and shared experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - Incorporating a mix of personal photographs and responses to create unique and compelling books that captivate readers.
2. Art and Photography - Exploring innovative approaches to photography that integrate audience participation and feedback to enhance artistic expression.
3. Social Networking - Developing platforms or applications that facilitate meaningful conversations and interactions between individuals with common interests or goals.
2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
